Davis High student excels at athletics, academics

KAYSVILLE — Some people's resumes are just longer than others.

And, in Matt Rees' case, it's not just full of fluff, either.

The soon-to-be-graduating Davis High student-athlete could fill at least one page in his resume simply by listing his senior-year accomplishments, which include him being named the school's Sterling Scholar for math, maintaining a 4.0 GPA and earning the prestigious Hinckley Scholarship at Brigham Young University.

If you've watched any of the Darts' sports teams this year, there's a good chance you've seen him. In the fall, Rees was on the cross country team. In the winter, he played basketball. And this spring, he doubled his playing pleasure. He was a defensive cog as sweeper for the Davis soccer team, which just lost in the 5A quarterfinals to Alta. He also qualified for state in two track events, finishing seventh in Class 5A in the 800 meters and participating on the school's seventh-place 4x400 team.

As you can see, he's been busy. It's probably a good thing he got the 35 score on his ACT, his LDS young men's award and his Eagle Scout out of his way before his senior year. And did we mention he spends all of his spare time helping old ladies crossing the road?

OK, that last bit was a stretch — not that he wouldn't or hasn't, of course — but, amazingly, the rest is true.

"He's just one of those great kids," said Davis track and field coach Roger Buhrley.

Buhrley helped Rees do double-time in spring sports, allowing him to participate on the track and field team despite his previous commitments to the soccer squad. Rees wasn't able to make all the track practices, but he earned respect by giving his all when he could come. That was evident by his good showing at the region and state meets. Even with limited training, Rees ran his way to a second-place finish in the 800-meter race at the Region 1 championships a couple of weeks ago.

But Buhrley is as impressed — if not more — by Rees the person as he is with Rees the student-athlete. The legendary track coach joked that you'd have to add up all three of his ACT attempts to equal the one nearly perfect score that Rees got in one try. By the way, from seventh grade through his senior year, Rees only received one non-straight-A, and that was an A-minus. It's no surprise, then, that he's a multiple-sport Academic All-State recipient.

"He gives 100 percent, whether it's in academics, athletics or just being a good person," Buhrley said. "He's been a pleasure to coach."